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Fairfield Police Investigation Finds Dogs In Attack Are Kept Behind Fence

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Fairfield Police Department issued a statement Monday evening about its investigation into an incident last week in which a dog bit a child and caused serious injuries. "The Fairfield Police Department understands that there has been a lot of concern over the recent incident on Stratfield Road, where a dog attacked a child," said the department's statement. "The safety of our residents and visitors is our primary concern."  

Fairfield Police are investigating the incident.

Fairfield Police are investigating the incident.

Photo Credit: Meredith Guinness

The Fairfield Police Department’s Animal Control Division has been investigating the incident and "has determined the dogs are kept behind a physical fence that surrounds the property with gates and an electronic fence as a backup," the statement said. 

Related story: Fairfield Boy, 10, Seriously Hurt By Dog While Fundraising Door To Door

Also, the dogs are up-to-date with their required vaccinations and are licensed. 

"We have also spoken to the dog's owner and advised him of the concerns regarding Halloween and kids trick-or-treating," police said in a statement. "He has assured us that the dogs will be kept inside the home that night." 

The resident also told police that he has posted warning signs on the gate, but they were stolen. A new sign has since been posted, police said. 

"Our animal control officers issued a 14-day home quarantine as required by law" for the dog, police said.

The incident remains under investigation, police said. 

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Fairfield's Animal Control Division at 203-254-4857.

In the incident at 4:45 p.m. Oct. 22, a 10-year-old boy going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions with his 15-year-old brother. They were ringing doorbells on Stratfield Road when he came to a rear yard surrounded by a fence with two gates latched from the inside, police said.

The homeowner said he heard a child screaming, then ran outside and grabbed his great dane while the child exited the property, police said.

The brother told police he was outside the gate yelling for help.

The homeowner said his other dog was in the yard, but stayed back behind an invisible fence, police said. The boy’s mother told police her son said that he was attacked by both dogs.

Witnesses told police they saw the brothers going door-to-door, but no one saw the entire encounter with the dog, police said.

An ambulance took the child to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The boy, a Stratford Elementary School student, told police he was selling magazine subscriptions for school. The dog’s owner said the child didn’t appear to have paperwork in his hands, police said.

Citing school protocol, the school’s principal declined to answer questions, police said.

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